Development vs. Self-Sufficiency: Some Marketing Considerations for Trinidad and Tobago

1. The food marketing system in Trinidad and Tobago is a serious limit on meaningful economic development. 2. In the interest of overall development, it is unwise to increase local food production and leave the marketing system unchanged, marketing development must be concurrent with production growth. 3. Even if food production is increased in the short run, failure to develop suitable marketing arrangements is likely to lead to a decrease in farm production and a resort to further imports in the long run. 4. There exists the need for greater levels of farmer involvement and more meaningful state participation in all levels of planning, input supply, production and marketing.